Justice & Peace

The Equestrian Order encourages the education of members through the dissemination of accurate and timely information about the challenges affecting and needs of the Christian community in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Cyprus.

Especially with present conditions being what they are in the Holy Land, justice and peace issues are of vital concern to the Order. Maintaining the rights of Christians in the Holy Land is an issue that ultimately affects all Christians, for it calls into question the right of all of us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, Our Savior.

Among the activities taking place at the Lieutenancy and diocesan level are:

• Creating opportunities for the co-promotion of inter-religious dialogue and understanding.
• Placing articles on justice and peace issues, particularly with respect to the Holy Land, in diocesan newspapers and church bulletins;
• Attempting to get articles, editorials or letters to the editor published in local newspapers;
• Contributing to the Lieutenancy newsletter column or page on justice and peace;
• Promoting small group rosaries on a monthly basis for the intentions of peace in the Holy Land and our Christian brothers and sisters;
• Encouraging members to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land;
• Praying the Memorare each day for the intention of Peace in the Holy Land and for the intentions of our Holy Father.

Justice and Peace is in many ways what being a Knight or Lady is all about. We hope every member will be actively involved in this effort.

Justice & Peace Newsletter

Dear Knights & Ladies of the Western Lieutenancy,

Here is the latest EOHSJ J&P Newsletter for the Western Lieutenancy. Our newsletters will include links to current news articles and videos with information related to the Holy Land and to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. The Justice & Peace teams of our Lieutenancy are now working to regularly collect informative current events articles and reports on topics related to the Holy Land and to the mission of our Order.

If anyone has articles to contribute or recommend for future newsletters please email them to us at eohsj.westernusa.jp@gmail.com.

“The Persecution and Genocide of Christians in the Middle East:Prevention, Prohibition & Prosecution“, edited by Ronald J. Rychlak and Jane F. Adolphe. Angelico Press (Kettering, Ohio, 2017).“This remarkable book should be read by all Catholics, indeed all Christians who care about the fate of Christianity in the lands of its origin, the Middle East and North Africa.”Review of this book in the Boston Pilot

Videos

The Crusades and the Political Misuse of HistoryWatch this excellent video explaining the true history of the Crusades and the distorted and historically incorrect portrayal of the Crusades in 20th & 21st Century history books and current media.

By Mr. Sami El-Yousef, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

The latest update on the closure and reopening of the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre

A Report from the Western Lieutenancy’s Holy Land Councillor, Sir Charles Radloff:

Wednesday, February 28th 2018

As indicated earlier today, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has reopened and pilgrims are able to enter and pray at the holy site without local disturbance.

The Jerusalem Municipality announced on Tuesday that it would halt its church property collection effort in light of the decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, and will form a commission to find a solution to the issue of taxation of religious sites by the City of Jerusalem.

Two weeks ago the municipality of Jerusalem advised Israeli officials it would begin collecting 650 million shekels ($ 186 million USD) in 2017 taxes on 887 Church owned properties.

The Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem in charge of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Catholic Custody of Holy Sites, and the Armenian Patriarchate, issued a statement that they were following with great concern the systematic campaign against Churches in the Christian Community which is in flagrant violation of the existing “Status Quo”.

It is speculative to venture an opinion what will occur after the Israeli special commission meets to develop a solution. For comparison, the Fundamental Agreement signed in 1994 between the Vatican and the State of Israel has yet to be signed by the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.

Ministry Stories

Zarqa Schools in Amman Thank the Western Lieutenancy

Students at Zarqa North and South Enjoy Summer School

Since 2003 the Western Lieutenancy has directly supported the Twelve Apostles School and St. Pius X School in Zarqa, Jordan (Zarqa North and Zarqa South). In 2017 the Las Vegas Council contributed $10,000 for the Zarqa schools’ summer camp project. Below is a letter – and accompanying photos – from Fr. Eyad Bader, dated July 26, 2018, thanking the WL for its assistance in the schools’ latest summer program that benefited hundreds of children and teenagers. The children appreciated all the activities particularly the singing class and the language classes in English and Italian. Another week-long summer camp is scheduled at the end of this month.

___________________________________

Dear friends,

The previous week had been the last week for the summer school and by the end of it we finished summer school with the children of the parish. It has been three intensive but very interesting weeks, during which the children enjoyed the activities we offered. We have seen how the children appreciated all the activities, especially the singing class and the language classes such as English and Italian. They started to learn some basics of these languages which were unknown to them!

Our truly thanks for your help. We even had the opportunity to take all 300 participants on trips every Thursday, the elders to pools, while the younger ages two times to a playground and for once to a water playground. They had a lot of fun, and they are very grateful for the possibilities they have received.

At the end of this month we will have a summer school for a week with the boys and girls of the parish who are from 7th to 12th grades. They are waiting impatiently after having seen the success of the summer school with the younger children!

Meanwhile, we thank you for your great help, which is without it, we could not do much!

In Christ,Fr. Eyad Bader

Thank You from Zarqa South School

Students at Zarqa South School in Amman, Jordan Thank The Western Lieutenancy

On September 16, 2017, we received an email from Zarqa School South in Amman, Jordan with attached photos of cute “thank you” letters from grade school students. In these letters, shown below, the children lovingly and enthusiastically express their grateful feelings towards the Western Lieutenancy.

The Western Lieutenancy has directly supported both the Zarqa South and Zarqa North Schools in Amman, Jordan since 2003.

Our mission is to invest in the educational future of the Zarqa students by providing educational materials and financial support for the students and staff. The Lieutenancy has in the past provided the Zarqa schools with new computers, repair and maintenance of infrastructure, and backpacks and school supplies to their students.

Society of St. Yves

Dear Friends,

The Society of St. Yves was founded in 1991 and is working under the patronage of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to help “the poor and the oppressed” according to the social doctrine of the Catholic Church. St. Yves provides gratis legal assistance, counsel and advocacy to all members of the community, irrespective of race, colour, gender or religion. Through national and international lobby and advocacy we are able to bring the light of the poor and marginalised to the attention of communities around the world in an effort to bring pressure for change.

JUSTICE & PEACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sir Laurin Dodd, KC*HS

Lady Sophia Rose Dodd, LC*HS

Sir Pieter Scholte, KC*HS

Lady Teena Scholte, LC*HS

The purpose of the Justice & Peace Committee is to implement successful programs and projects within each Area of the Lieutenancy. These projects will promote an awareness and education about the plight of the Christians in the Holy Land to the local membership of the Order. They will provide material or financial aid and support while promoting prayer for our Brothers and Sisters in the Holy Land.